Please call for justice for the victims of human rights violation in Maguindanao province

karapatan-updates@googlegroups.com: Aug 28 10:53AM +0800 

APPEAL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION
Call for justice for the victims of human rights violation in Maguindanao province


28 August 2014


Dear friends,


Please join us in our call for justice for the four-month old child victim of indiscriminate firing and the call to surface Mohammad Abdulkarim and his 14-year-old son Mehad Mohammad.


These cases continue to show that the military's presence in the communities endanger civilians, especially children.


Below is the account based on the initial report received by Karapatan:


Enforced Disappearance of father and son


On July 3, 2014, Mohammad Abdulkarim and his son Mehad Mohammad were stopped by members of the 45th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army at a checkpoint in Brgy. Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao. Witnesses reported the two were taken into military custody soon after they were stopped at the checkpoint.


Abdulkarim's relative went to the Army's detachment and inquired about the father and son. But, the military reported they already released the two.


The whereabouts of Mohammad Abdulkarim and Mehad Mohammad are still unknown as of this writing.


A few days after the abduction, soldiers of the 45th IB were seen near the home of Mohammad. The family believes the military may be conducting surveillance activities on their community.


Strafing of civilian homes leave a baby injured


On the evening of June 7, 2014, Mohammad Panigas and his family were preparing to go to bed when they heard several shots fired.


Mohammad's wife quickly picked up their four-month old baby from the cradle and saw the child wounded in his left leg. The couple sought their neighbors' help to bring the child to the hospital.


Not far away from the Mohammad's home is the detachment of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of the Philippine Army.


We call on friends and human rights advocates to send letters of concern to call for:



1. The government to immediately surface Mohammad Abdulkarim and Mehad Mohammad.

2. Justice for the child of Mohammad Panigas.

3. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights to look into these incidents of human rights violations; and, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

4. The withdrawal of Oplan Bayanihan, the Philippine government’s counter-insurgency program, which victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.

5. The Philippine Government to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that it is a party and signatory to.



You may send your communications to the following agencies through mail, e-mail or fax:


H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic <http://www.president.gov.ph/>
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: op@president.gov.ph


Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
<http://opapp.gov.ph/contact>
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
stqd.papp@opapp.gov.ph


Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
<http://www.dnd.gov.ph/DND-Key%20Officials.htm>
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193 / 911-0488 / 982-5600
Fax:+63(2) 982-5600
Email: osnd@philonline.com, dnd.opla@gmail.com


Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
<http://doj.gov.ph/directory-of-officials.html>
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-1908
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.211/214
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email: lmdelima@doj.gov.ph, lmdelima.doj@gmail.com, lmdelima.doj2@gmail.com


Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
<http://www.chr.gov.ph/MAIN%20PAGES/contact_us.htm>
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com, lorettann@gmail.com

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.